Air circulator and purifier



@668 A, E. AYDT AIR CIRCULATOB AND PURIFIER Filed June 21., 1946 v JNVENTOR. ART/10R E. Arm,

QZONIZER Patented Dec. 2, 1947 warren stares Meat FFIQE AIR CIRCULATOR AND PlURIlFIER Arthur E. Aydt, St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 21, 1946, Serial No. 678,314

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to air circulators which draw the cooler air upwardly from the region of the floor of an enclosure such as a room and then circulate this air laterally into the room; and more particularly to an air circulator and purifier of this type characterized by a vertically elongated foraminous casing within which is arranged a vertical series of motor driven faces and sirocco type blower rotors on a single shaft such that the cooler air from the region of the floor is drawn into said casing and therein forced upwardly to be forcibly discharged laterally from the casing at higher levels equally in all directions so that the discharged air can reach all parts of the room.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above involving a minimum of moving and wearing parts and unusual simplicity and convenience in the construction and arrangement of the parts, whereby the cost of manufacturing and subsequent servicing of the device are reduced to a minimum.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above, which is unusually compact so as to occupy a minimum of usable space in a room or in storage, while having an unusually high air circulating capacity.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above, in which additional air circulating means can be optionally mounted on the single shaft and positioned around the fans and blowers when increased air circulating capa ity is desired; and to which air ozonizing or other air purifying means can be associated so that the air drawn from the region of the floor can be purified before being laterally dispersed into the room.

Other important objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended drawing, wherein for illustrative purposes only, a nonlimitative example of this invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the device, with the foraminous casing cut away to disclose the interior construction.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the nu-.

meral 5 designates a suitable preferably annual pedestal type base, for resting on the floor or other supporting surface (not shown), on the top of which base is fixed the center portion of a spider 6 including an annular rim 1, to the outside of which is attached, the vertically elongated generally cylindrical foraminous casing 8, which in this case is formed of wire mesh.

Substantially one half of the casing 8 is in the form of a swingable door 9 providing ready access to the mechanism, having vertically spaced hinges to connecting one edge of the door to the corresponding edge of the stationary part it of the casing, with suitable door locking means !2 for securing the free edge of the door to the related edge of the stationary part II.

The upper end of the casing B is closed by a substantially imperforate top I2 having a centralized vertical bearing I3 for the upper end of the single rotating shaft M characterizing the device.

The lower end of shaft M may be formed in continuation of or integral with the shaft of a vertically arranged electric motor iii which is supported above the sp der 6 by means of lower straps ll connected to the spider rim 7 and by upper straps 58 to a perforated cylindrical reinforcing wall i9 supported upon said spider rim l inside the lower part of the casing 8.

A rheostat switch 20 is mounted on the wall 59 and also an on and off switch 2! have their operating handles exposed outside the casing 8 for easy operation for starting and stopping and for determining the speed of operation and hence the air output of the device including the ozonizer. The electric ozonizer or the like 22 may be mounted on the spider 6 and be connected to the switches 23 and 2! as indicated, so that the air drawn up through the spider from the floor is purified by ozone issuing from the ozonizer before passing upwardly around the motor l6. This transit of air helps to cool the motor it and prolong its useful life.

A propeller 23, with its blades pitched to draw air upwardly from the floor through the lower part of casing 8, is mounted on the shaft i l in spaced relation above the motor E6, the position of the propeller on the shaft being maintained by a set screw or the like 2d.

Similarly fixed on the shaft [4 slightly above the fan 23 is a double length sirocco rotor 25, to which air drawn from the floor region is projected by the face 23. On the shaft i l above the siroCCo rotor 12% are single sirocco rotors 26 and 21, respectively, which are slightly axially spaced from the rotor 25 and from each other. Similarly mounted on the shaft [4 above and spaced from the upper single sirocco rotor 21 is the fan 28 which is spaced downwardly from the casing top l2. The blades of fan 28 are pitched to disperse the air rising through the sirocco rotors outwardly and downwardly through the upper sides of the casing 8 for even distribution toward all parts of the room, while the sirocco rotors discharge the air laterally at their respective levels through the sides of easing 8.

While not necessary for cooling and circulating the air in ordinary rooms, for use in 1arger rooms and in commercial establishments the device may have added thereto for greater projection of air from the casing, an outside rotor generally designated 29, which extends substantially the full length of casing 8. The outside rotor 29 comprises a lower spider 39 fixed by a set screw 3| to the shaft l 4 between the lower propeller 23 and the motor IE; an intermediate spider 32 located between the lower double length sirocco rotor 25 and the lower single sirocco rotor 26; and an upper spider 33 fixed on shaft I4 above the upper fan 28.

The said spiders 3f], 32 and 33 each consist of three cross arms 34 whose ends reach radially outwardly to the space between the fans and sirocco rotors and the casing 8, where they have secured thereto the plain fiat vanes 35 which are angulated as shown in Figure 2, so that when rotated through the said space as the shaft l4 and the fans and sirocco rotors turn the air output of the device is greatly increased.

When the device of this invention is made in a, substantially reduced size it is suitable as a table or desk fan, particularly as its output of air, while effectively circulating air on and around the table, is substantially less disturbing to persons seated around or working at the table or desk, and less disturbing to papers or other articles thereon than conventional type fans. The present fan can be slowed down to any desired low speed and can operate silently enough to offer no annoyance to diners or workers. In conjunction with an ozone unit used in its base, such a desk or table fan can serve to eliminate tobacco smoke and other odors at or in the vicinity of the table or desk, while circulating fresh air therearound.

I claim:

1. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan.

2. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said S aft, a updraft fan on said shaft above said mQ-tor i! drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, air purifying means located in the lower part of said casing in the stream of the air updrawn by said updraft fan,

3. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a down draft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, air purifying means located in the lower part of said casing in the stream of the air updrawn by said updraft fan, said motor and said updraft fan being positioned relative to the said lower end of the casing so that the updrawn air passes around and cools said motor on its way up through said casing.

4. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, said sirocco blower means comprising a double length lower rotor a single-length intermediate rotor spaced thereabove, and an upper single-length rotor spaced above said intermediate rotor and spaced below said downdraft fan.

5. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, the lower end of said casing being open and comprising an open work spider, and a pedestal base for said casing having a relatively small diameter column supportably connected to the center of said spider so as to provide unobstructed passage of air into the lower end of the casing from the region of the supporting surface around said base.

6. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, said casing having a top including a bearing for the upper end of said shaft, and an outside rotor comprising a plurality of spiders fixed on said shaft and having arms radiating beyond the circumferences of said fans and sirocco blower means, and vertically elongated vanes secured to the outer ends of said arms close to the sidewall of said casing, said vanes being angulated to increase the air output through the sidewall of the casing as said shaft, said fans, and said sirocco blower means are rotated by said motor.

7. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated foraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, said casing havinga top including a bearing for the upper end of said shaft, and an outside rotor comprising a plurality of spiders fixed on said shaft and having arms radiating beyond the circumferences of said fans and sirocco blower means, and vertically elongated vanes secured to the outer ends of said arms close to the sidewall of said casing, said vanes being angulated to increase the air output through the sidewall of the casing as said shaft, said fans, and said sirocco blower means are rotated by said motor, said vanes extending above said downdraft fan and below said updraft fan.

8. An air circulating device comprising a vertically elongated fcraminous casing, a vertical shaft mounted in said casing for rotation on its axis, an electric motor in the lower part of said casing drivingly connected to said shaft, an updraft fan on said shaft above said motor for drawing air through the lower end of said casing from the region of the supporting surface on which said casing is supported and for driving air upwardly through said casing, sirocco blower means on said shaft above said updraft fan for projecting air radially outwardly through the sides of said casing, and a downdraft fan on said shaft above said sirocco blower means arranged to further laterally disperse through the sides of the casing air rising through said sirocco blower means from said updraft fan, said sirocco blower means comprising a double length lower rotor, a single length intermediate rotor spaced thereabove, and an upper single length rotor spaced above said intermediate rotor and spaced below said downdraft fan, said casing having a top including a bearing for the upper endof said shaft, and an outside rotor comprising a plurality of spiders fixed on said shaft and having arms radiating beyond the circumferences of said fans and sirocco blower means, and vertically elongated vanes secured to the outer ends of said arms close to the side wall of said casing, said vanes being angulated to increase the air output through the side wall of the casing as said shaft, said fans, and said sirocco blower means are rotated by said motor.

ARTHUR E. AYDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

